Operating device and image processing system using same

ABSTRACT

An operating device is connected to an image processing apparatus that generates image data to be displayed on a display according to a program. The operating device supplies a signal for providing variation to the image data to be generated by the image processing apparatus. A joystick includes a lever and a disc interlocked therewith so that the rotation of the disc is detected by a photo-interrupter. The pulse from the photo-interrupter is counted by a counter, which counter is reset depending upon a reset signal. The reset signal is supplied to the counter when three of buttons are simultaneously depressed, or when a power supply is turned on, or otherwise from a CPU of the image processing apparatus.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/836,787, filed May 16,1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,903,257, now allowed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an operating device and an image processingsystem using same. More particularly, this invention is concerned withan operating device (joystick) with which the function is extendable foran image processing apparatus such as a personal computer, a video gamemachine, and so on, to enable transmission and reception of any data.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Conventional joysticks are structured to detect in which direction andto what degree an operating member thereof is inclined. The “home” orneutral position to which the operating member returns when not operatedby an operator is the origin point from which inclination of theoperating member is measured. Because the origin point is fixed and notalterable by a user, the user cannot freely modify the location of theorigin point.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide anoperating device in which errors incurred through mass production canreadily corrected and the origin point of the operating device can bedetermined and modified freely by an user.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an imageprocessing system using such an operating device.

An operating device is connected during use to an image processingapparatus (10) that generates image data to be displayed on a displayaccording to a program, to supply a signal for providing variation tothe image data to be generated by an image processing apparatus, theoperating device comprising: an operating member (451), a rotatingmember (457, 467), a rotation detecting means (459, 469), a count means(444X, 444Y), a reset signal generating means (442, 443, 447, 448), anda transfer means (442, 445, 43).

The operating member is supported to be tilt-operated by an operator soas to incline within a predetermined range and rest, when not operatedby the operator, at a predetermined neutral position. The rotatingmember is arranged for rotation depending upon an inclination amount ofthe operating member. The rotation detecting means detect a rotationalstate of the rotating member. The count means varies a count valuethereof depending on a rotational amount of the rotating member detectedby the rotation detecting means. The reset signal generating meansgenerates a reset signal to reset the count value of the count means.The transfer means transfers the count value counted by the count meansto the image processing apparatus.

An image processing system includes an image processing apparatus forgenerating image data to be displayed on a display according to aprogram, and an operating device for connecting during use to the imageprocessing apparatus so as to supply a signal for varying to the imagedata to be generated by the image processing apparatus. The imageprocessing apparatus (10) includes a program memory (20), a firstreceiving means (173), a central processing means (11), a firsttransmitting means (172), and an image signal generating means (16), andwherein the operating device (40) includes an operating member (451), arotating member (457, 467), a rotation detecting means (459, 469),account means (444X, 444Y), a reset signal generating means (442, 443,447, 448), a second receiving means (173), a transfer means (171), and asecond transmitting means (172).

The program memory is stored with a program for image processing. Thefirst receiving means receives data generated by the operating device.The central processing means generates command data according to theprogram stored in the program memory, and generating image datadepending upon the program and the data received by the first receivingmeans. The first transmitting means transmits the command data generatedby the central processing means to the operating device. The imagesignal generating means generates an image signal for displaying animage on the display depending upon the image data from the centralprocessing means. The operating member is supported to be tilt-operatedto be inclined within a predetermined range by the operator and rested,when not operated by an operator, at a predetermined position. Therotating member is arranged for rotation depending upon an inclinationamount of the operating member. The rotation detecting means detects arotational state of the rotating member. The count means has a countvalue varied depending on the rotational amount of the rotating memberdetected by the rotation detecting means. The reset signal generatingmeans generates a reset signal to reset the count value of the countmeans. The second receiving means receives the command data transmittedfrom the first transmitting means. The transfer means outputs the countvalve data counted by the count means in response to reception ofpredetermined command data by the second receiving means. The secondtransmitting means transmits the count valve data output by the transfermeans to the image processing apparatus.

When the operator holds the operating device in hand and inclines theoperating member, the rotating member rotates depending upon theinclination. As a result, the rotation detecting means generates anelectric signal responsive to the rotation of the rotating member. Inresponse to the electric signal, the count means counts the rotationalamount of the rotating member. The reset signal generating meansgenerates a reset signal to reset the count value of the count means.The transfer means transfers the count value of the count means to theimage processing apparatus. In response to this, the image processingapparatus generates an image signal varied depending on the count value.

The central processing means generates command data according to theprogram stored in the program memory. The first transmitting meanstransmits the command data to the operating device. The transmittedcommand signal is received by the second receiving means. The transfermeans, in response to the reception of the command signal by thereceiving means, outputs data of the count value counted by the countmeans. The count value data is transmitted by the second transmittingmeans to the image processing apparatus. This transmitted count valuedata is received by the first receiving means. The central processingmeans generates image data based on this count value data and a program.In accordance with this image data, the image signal generating meansgenerates an image signal for displaying an image on the display.

According to the present invention, the number of program steps forimage processing can be reduced so that the program is simplified andprogrammer operating time is shortened and operation is simplified.

The above and other objects, features, aspects, and advantage of thepresent invention will become more apparent from the ensuing detaileddescription of the present invention when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustrative view showing one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing in detail an image processingapparatus in the FIG. 1 embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an illustrative view showing a memory map in CPU of FIG. 2embodiment, demonstrating an external memory and a W-RAM incorporated ina cartridge;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing in detail a controller control circuitin FIG. 2 embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an illustrative view showing a modulating/demodulating methodfor data;

FIG. 6 is an illustrative view showing a memory map of a RAM in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a controller of FIG. 2 embodiment asviewed from the above;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the controller of FIG. 2 embodiment asviewed from the bottom;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of showing an analog joystick unit capableof being utilized in the embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing major portions of FIG. 9 unit;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing major portions of FIG. 9unit

FIG. 12 is a sectional illustrative view showing major portions of FIG.9 unit;

FIG. 13 is an illustrative view showing a state where a lever is guidedby a guide ring;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing in detail the controller and anexpansion device;

FIG. 15 is an illustrative view showing data of the analog joystick andrespective buttons of the controller;

FIG. 16 is an illustrative view of transmission and reception data bythe control circuit when a command “0” is transmitted from thecontroller control circuit;

FIG. 17 is an illustrative view of transmission and reception data bythe control circuit when a command “1” is transmitted from thecontroller control circuit;

FIG. 18 is an illustrative view of transmission and reception data bythe control circuit when a command “2” is transmitted from thecontroller control circuit;

FIG. 19 is an illustrative view of transmission and reception data bythe control circuit when a command “3” is transmitted from thecontroller control circuit;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing operation of the CPU of FIG. 2embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing operation of the bus control circuit ofthe FIG. 2 embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing operation of the controller controlcircuit of FIG. 2 embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing operation of the controller circuit ofFIG. 2 embodiment;

FIG. 24 is an illustrative view of transmission and reception data bythe control circuit when a command “255” is transmitted from thecontroller control circuit;

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a first method of origin point resetting;

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a second method of origin pointresetting;

FIG. 27 is an illustrative view showing the correspondence of a physicalcoordinate of the joystick to a display screen;

FIG. 28 is an illustrative view showing the correspondence of thephysical coordinate of the joystick to the display screen when resettingan origin point;

FIG. 29 is an illustrative view showing a display screen for selecting aracing car;

FIG. 30 is an illustrative view showing one example of an initial screenof a racing game;

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing the conventional operation for selectinga racing car;

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing the conventional operation for a racinggame;

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing the operation for selecting in theembodiment a racing car; and

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing the operation of a racing game inaccordance with an example embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an external view showing asystem structure of an image processing system according to oneembodiment of the present invention. The image processing system is forexample a video game system, which inclusively comprises an imageprocessing apparatus main body 10, a ROM cartridge 20 as one example ofan external memory device, a display 30 as one example of a displaymeans connected to the image processing apparatus main body 10, acontroller 40 as one example of an operating means, and a RAM cartridge50 as one example of an extension device detachably attached to thecontroller 40. Incidentally, the external memory device stores imagedata and program data for image processing for games, and audio data formusic, effect sound, etc. A CD-ROM or a magnetic disc may alternativelybe employed in place of the ROM cartridge. Where the image processingsystem of this example is applied to a personal computer, an inputdevice such as a keyboard or a mouse is used as the operating means.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image processing system of thisexample. The image processing apparatus 10 incorporates therein acentral processor unit (hereinafter “CPU”) 11 and a bus control circuit12. The bus control circuit 12 is connected with a cartridge connector13 for detachably attaching the ROM cartridge 20, as well as a workingRAM 14. The bus control circuit 12 is connected with an audio signalgenerating circuit 15 for outputting an audio signal processed by theCPU 11 and a video signal generating circuit 16 for outputting a videosignal, and further with a controller control circuit 17 for seriallytransferring operating data of one or a plurality of controller(s) 40and/or data of RAM cartridge(s) 50. The controller control circuit 17 isconnected with controller connectors (hereinafter abbreviated as“connectors”) 181–184 which are to be provided at a front face of theimage processing apparatus 10. To the connector 18 is detachablyconnected a connection jack 41 and the controller 40 through a cable 42.Thus, the connection of the controller to the connector 181–184 placesthe controller 40 into electric connection to the image processingapparatus 10, enabling transmission and reception of data therebetween.

More specifically, the bus control circuit 12 inputs therein a commandoutputted by a parallel signal from the CPU 11 via a bus toparallel-serial convert it for outputting a command by a serial signalto the controller control circuit 17, and converts serial signal datainputted from the controller control circuit 17 into a parallel signalfor outputting it to a bus. The data outputted through the bus issubjected to processing by the CPU 11, stored in W-RAM 14, and so on. Inother words, the W-RAM 14 is a memory temporary storing the data to beprocessed by the CPU 11, wherein read-out and write-in of data ispossible through the bus control circuit 12.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration showing memory regions assigned torespective memory spaces. The memory spaces accessible by the CPU viathe bus control circuit 12 involves an external memory region of the ROMcartridge 20 and a memory region of the W-RAM 14. Although the ROMcartridge 20 is structured by mounting on a board a ROM stored with datafor game processing and accommodating the same board in a housing, theROM storage data is shown by the external memory region shown in FIG. 3.That is, the ROM includes an image data region 201 stored with imagedata required to cause the image processing apparatus 10 to generateimage signals for the game, and a program data region 202 stored withprogram data required for predetermined operation of the CPU 11. In theprogram data region 202, there fixedly stored are an image displayprogram for performing image display based on image data 201, atime-measuring program for carrying out measurement of time, and adetermination program for determining that the cartridge 20 and anextension device 50, hereinafter referred to, are in a predeterminedrelationship. Incidentally, the details of the time-measuring programand the determination programs will be stated later. On the other hand,the memory region of W-RAM 14 includes a region 141 for temporarilystoring data representative of an operating state from a control panel.

FIG. 4 is a detailed circuit diagram of a controller control circuit 17.The controller control circuit 17 is provided for transmission andreception of data in serial between the bus control circuit 12 and thecontroller connector 181–184, and includes a data transfer controlcircuit 171, a signal transmitting circuit 172, a signal receivingcircuit 173 and a RAM 174 for temporarily storing transmission andreception data. The data transfer control circuit 171 includes aparallel-serial conversion circuit and a serial-parallel conversioncircuit for conversion of data format during data transfer, which alsoperforms control of write-in and read-out of the RAM 174. Theserial-parallel conversion circuit converts serial data supplied fromthe bus control circuit 12 into parallel data to provide it to the RAM174 or the signal transmitting circuit 172. The parallel-serialconversion circuit converts parallel data supplied from the RAM 174 orthe signal receiving circuit 173 into serial data to provide it to thebus control circuit 12. The signal transmission circuit 172 convertsdata for signal read-in control of the controller 40 supplied from thedata transfer control circuit 171 and write-in data (parallel data) tothe RAM cartridge 50 into serial data, which data is transmitted througha corresponding channel CH1–CH4 to each of the plurality of controllers40. The signal receiving circuit 173 receives in serial read-out data,representative of an operating state of each of the controller 40,inputted through a corresponding channel CH1–CH4 to each of thecontroller 40 as well as read-out data from the RAM cartridge 50, toconvert them into parallel data to provide it to the data transfercontrol circuit 171.

The signal transmitting circuit 172 and the signal receiving circuit 173adopt a duty-cycle modulation and demodulation (hereinafter referred toas “modulation/demodulation”) method as one example of themodulation/demodulation method. The duty-cycle modulation/demodulationmethod, as shown in FIG. 5, is a modulation/demodulation method wherein“1” and “0” are represented by varying a Hi time period and a Lo timeperiod for a signal at a certain interval. Explaining themodulation/demodulation method with more detail, when data to betransmitted in serial is a logical “1” a signal having, within one cycleperiod T, a high-level period tH rendered longer than a low-level periodtL (tH>tL) is transmitted, while when data to be transmitted is alogical “0” a signal having, within one cycle period T, tH renderedshorter than tL (tH<tL) is transmitted.

In the meanwhile, the demodulation method makes sampling on a serialsignal received (bit transmission signal) so as to monitor at all timeswhether the received signal is at a high level or a low level, whereinone cycle is expressed as T=tL+tH provided that time period of low tillchange to high is tL and time period of high till change to low is tH.In this case, the relation of tL and tH being tL<tH is recognized aslogical “1”, while tL>tH is recognized as logical “0”, thereby achievingdemodulation. If the duty-cycle modulation/demodulation method like thisis employed, there is no necessity of transmitting data in synchronismwith clock, offering an advantage that transmission and reception ofdata are available with only one signal line. Incidentally, it isnatural that if two signal lines are available anothermodulation/demodulation method may be utilized.

The RAM 174 includes memory regions or memory areas 174 a–174 h as shownin a memory map of FIG. 6. Specifically, the area 174 a is stored with acommand for channel 1, while the area 174 b is stored with transmissiondata and reception data for channel 1. The area 174 c is stored with acommand for channel 2, while the area 174 d is stored with transmissiondata and reception data for channel 2. The area 174 e is stored with acommand for channel 3, while the area 174 f is stored with transmissiondata and reception data for channel 3. The area 174 g is stored with acommand for channel 4, while the area 174 h is stored with transmissiondata and reception data for channel 4.

Accordingly, the data transfer control circuit 171 operates to write-incontrol to the RAM 174 data transferred from the bus control circuit 12or data of operating state of the controller 40 received by the signalreceiving circuit 173 or read-out data from the RAM cartridge 50, andread data out of the RAM 174 based on a command from the bus controlcircuit 12 to transfer it to the bus control circuit 12.

With referring to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the controller 40 of thisembodiment shown includes a housing 401 consist of an upper half and alower half. At both left and right ends of the housing 401, a left grip402L and a right grip 402R are respectively formed in a manner that thesame are protruded toward a front side. An intermediate position betweenthe left grip 402L and the right grip 402R, a center grip 402C is formedin a manner that the same is protruded toward the front side. Across-direction designation switch 403 which is a digital joystick isformed on a surface of the housing 401 in the vicinity of a base end ofthe left grip 402L. Action designation switches 404A, 404B, 404C, 404D,404E and 404F which designate six (6) kinds of actions are respectivelyformed on the surface of the housing 401 in the vicinity of a base endof the right grip 402R.

An analog joystick 45 which is capable of designating all directionswithin 360 degrees is formed on the housing 401 in the vicinity of abase end of the center grip 402C. At an approximately central positionof the housing 401, a start switch 405 which designates a start of agame is formed. Furthermore, the start switch 405 is positioned at anapproximately center of an area surrounded by the switches 403 and 404Ato 404F, and the analog joystick 45.

Furthermore, a pair of side surface switches 406L and 406R are formed ona rear surface of the housing 401, and a bottom surface switch 407 isformed at an approximately center of the lower half in the vicinity ofthe base end of the center grip 402C.

A rear surface of the lower half is extended toward direction of abottom surface, and an opening portion 408 is formed at a tip endthereof. In an interior of the opening portion 408, a connector (notshown) to which an expansion cartridge 50 shown in FIG. 4 is connectedis provided. Furthermore, a lever 409 for discharging the cartridge 50inserted into the opening portion 408 is formed at a position of theopening portion 408. In addition, at a side opposite to the lever of theopening portion 408 to which the above described expansion cartridge 50is inserted, a notch 410 is formed, and the notch 410 secures a spacefor withdrawing the expansion cartridge 50 in discharging the expansioncartridge 50 with utilizing the lever 409.

Now, with referring to FIG. 9 to FIG. 13, the analog joystick 45 will bedescribed in detail. The analog joystick 45 is constructed as a joystickunit shown in FIG. 9. The joystick unit is sandwiched by the upper halfand the lower half of the housing 401. The joystick unit includes ahousing formed by a case 451 and a cover 452, and an inner case 453 areaccommodated within the housing.

As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the inner case 453 includes abowl-shaped recess portion 454 formed at a center of the inner case 453,and there are provided with two pairs of support plates 455 a and 455 b,and 456 a and 456 b around the recess portion 454 with angle-interval of90 degrees, and semicircular bearings 457 a and 457 b, and 458 a and 458b are formed on the support plates 455 a and 455 b, and 456 a and 456 b,respectively. The bearings 457 a and 457 b or 458 a and 458 b arearranged on the same axis line, and axes of the bearings 457 a and 457b, and 458 a and 458 b are at the same height level, and orthogonallyintersected to each other. Wheels 459 and 460 having rotation shaftswhich are orthogonally intersected to each other are rotatably supportedat a side surface of the inner case 453, and gears 461 are uniformlyformed on the respective wheels 459 and 460.

The analog joystick unit further includes swingable members 462 and 463.One swingable member 462 is formed by an arc-like member which isprovided with a long hole 464 being made long in a longitudinaldirection of the arc-like member, and supporting shafts 465 a and 465 bare formed at both ends of the swingable member 462, and shaft endportions 467 a and 467 b respectively having flat surfaces 466 a and 466b are extended from the supporting shafts 465 a and 465 b, and a sectorgear 468 is provided on one shaft end portion 467 b. The other swingablemember 463 is different from the one swingable member 462 in a pointthat the swingable member 463 is constructed by an arc-like memberhaving a radius of curvature smaller than that of the swingable member462; however, in other points, the swingable member 463 is constructedin a manner similar to or the same the swingable member 462. That is, areference numeral 469 denotes a long hole, reference numerals 470 a and470 b denote supporting shafts, reference numerals 471 a and 471 bdenote flat surfaces, reference numerals 472 a and 472 b denote shaftend portions, and a reference numeral 473 denotes a sector gear.

The supporting shafts 465 a and 465 b, and 470 a and 470 b areindividually inserted into the two sets of bearings 457 a and 457 b, and458 a and 458 b of the inner case 453, and therefore, the part of theswingable members 462 and 463 can be supported in a swing-free fashion,and the swingable members 462 and 463 are arranged in a state wherelongitudinal directions of the long holes 464 and 469 are orthogonallyintersected to each other and overlaid with an interval or gap. In thepair of swingable members 462 and 463 thus attached to the inner case453, the sector gears 468 and 469 engage the above described gears 461.Furthermore, respective ones of the above described flat surfaces 466 aand 466 b, and 471 a and 471 b are included in the same horizontal planein a neutral state of a lever 474 (described later).

As shown in FIG. 11, the lever 474 includes protrusions 475 which areprotruded toward outer radius directions at one end of the lever 474,and a ball portion 476 at a middle portion of the lever 474, and aconnection portion 477 at the other end of the lever 474. Grooves 478which are extended in a latitude direction at positions apart from eachother by 180 degrees are formed on the above described ball portion 476.A diameter of the lever 474 is selected at a size which is not largerthan sizes of short directions of the long holes 464 and 469 formed onthe swingable members 462 and 463. Preferably, the diameter of the lever474 is selected at a size by which the lever 474 can be slidablyinserted into the long holes 464 and 469 with no shake. Then, the oneend portion of the lever 474 is penetrated through the long holes 464and 469, and the protrusions 475 are fit into the long hole 464 of alower side swingable member 462. Therefore, the protrusions 475 of thelever 474 protrude in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinaldirection of the long hole 469 of an upper swingable member 463 beingattached to the inner case 453, and therefore, if the lever 474 ispulled-up, the protrusions 475 are prevented from being slipped-off bythe upper swingable member 463.

A mechanical structural portion assembled as shown in FIG. 10 isaccommodated within the outer case 451 shown in FIG. 9. At this time,the inner case 453 is fixed to the outer case 451 by a suitable meanssuch as screws (not shown).

Then, as well seen from FIG. 11 there are provided on the inner case 453photo-interrupters 479 and 480 which are opposite to the two wheels 459and 460. The photo-interrupters 479 and 480 respectively includelight-emitting elements and light-receiving elements (both not shown),and lights emitted by the light-emitting elements are received by thelight-receiving elements through slits 481 and 482 respectively formedon the wheels 459 and 460. Therefore, the photo-interrupters 479 and 480respectively detect the slits 481 and 482, and in response to the slits481 and 482, outputs pulse signals according to rotations of the wheels459 and 460.

In addition, the height level of swing-shafts (supporting shafts 465 and470) of the swingable members 462 and 463 are coincident with a heightlevel of a center of the ball portion 476 of the lever 474. Furthermore,a printed-circuit board (not shown) to which a flexible wiring plate 483is connected is assembled in the outer case 451, and the light-emittingelements and the light-receiving elements included in thephoto-interrupters 479 and 480 are electrically connected to printedpatterns of the board.

As shown in FIG. 12, a ring with groove 484 is supported above the flatsurfaces 466 and 471 provided on the pair of swingable members 462 and463, and a coil spring 485 is arranged above the ring with groove 484.The ring with groove 484 is one example of a pushing-down member, and inthe neutral state of the lever 474, a lower surface of the ring 484becomes horizontal, the lower surface of the ring 484 and the abovedescribed flat surfaces 466 and 471 are brought into surface-contactwith each other.

As shown in FIG. 12, a guide ring 486 is attached to the cover 452, anda circular hole 487 is formed at a center portion of the guide ring 486.The guide ring 486 further includes a guide wall 488 which is a risingslope raised from an inner periphery defining the hole 487 toward anouter periphery of the guide ring 486. That is, the guide wall 488 isformed as a whole in “an earthenware mortar” or “cone”-shape. Then, inviewing the guide wall 488 from above, the guide wall 488 has an outeredge 491 which becomes octagonal as shown in FIG. 13.

In addition, a diameter of the hole 487 is selected to a size that isthe same or approximately same as a diameter of an outer peripheralsurface of the ball portion 476 of the above described lever 474.Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12, the inner edge defining the hole 487 isbrought into contact with the ball portion 476 of the lever 474, andtherefore, the lever 474 is supported by the ball portion 476 and thehole 487 in a manner that the lever 474 can be swung or inclined in anydirections. Furthermore, circular bosses 489 are formed at two positionsapart from each other by 180 degrees on the inner edge defining the hole487 of the guide ring 486 in a manner that the bosses 489 are protrudedtoward an inner radius direction of the hole 487, and the bosses 489individually fit into the grooves 478 formed in the latitude directionof the above described ball portion 476. Therefore, the lever 474 can beswung around an axis of the bosses 489, but the lever 474 can not berotated around the axis of the lever 474 itself. Therefore, the lever474 is prevented from being rotated around its axis by the grooves 478of the ball portion 476 and the bosses 489.

Furthermore, if the cover 452 is attached to the case 451, a spring 490is sandwiched and compressed between the ring with groove 484 and thecover 452. Therefore, the flat surfaces 466 and 471 of the pair ofswingable members 462 and 463 are always depressed by a force of thespring 490 via the ring with groove 484, and by such a depressingoperation, the pair of swingable members 462 and 463 are alwayselastically biased so that both members 462 and 463 are not inclined inany direction, and therefore, the lever 474 is in a vertical attitude.Therefore, the lever 474 is elastically biased into a neutral state.

The lever 474 is provided with an operating knob 492 which is attachedto the lever 474 via the connection portion 477. On an upper surface ofthe operating knob 492, a recess portion 493 is formed such that afinger of the hand can be easily put on the knob 492.

In the above described analog joystick unit, according to an inclineddirection and an inclined angle of the lever 474, the swingable members462 and/or 463 are swung, and then, the wheels 459 and/or 460 arerotated in accordance with the inclined angle of the swingable members462 and/or 463, and therefore, pulses according to rotation amounts ofthe wheels 459 and/or 460 are outputted, and the pulses are utilized ascoordinate signals in X axis and/or Y axis directions.

Now, the guide ring 486 will be described in detail. As described above,the guide ring 486 includes the guide wall 488 having the octagonalouter edge 491 in viewing the guide ring 486 from above as shown in FIG.13. Respective corners of the octagonal outer edge 491 function asrecess portions which receive the lever 474 as shown in FIG. 13.Therefore, in this embodiment shown, the respective corners arepositioned at eight positions with intervals of 45 degrees of upper(North), lower (South), left (West), right (East), a center positionbetween upper and left (North-West), a center position between upper andright (North-East), a center position between lower and left(South-West) and a center position between lower and right (South-East).As to a point N indicative of upper (North) shown in FIG. 13,interfacing guide walls 488 a and 488 b converge at the point N.Therefore, if the lever 474 is inclined toward the point N, the lever474 is moved along with the guide walls 488 a and 488 b sandwiching thepoint N, that is, the lever 474 is guided by the guide walls 488 a and488 b, and finally, positioned at the point N. Therefore, at a time thatthe movable character (not shown) on the monitor (not shown) is intendedto be moved upward, for example, the lever 474 may be inclined towardthe point N. That is, when the movable character is to be advancedstraight up and the lever 474 is inclined toward a vicinity of the pointN, the lever 474 is restricted at the point N guide the guide walls 488a and 488 b adjacent to the point N. By holding such a state, it ispossible to surely advance the movable character straight-on.

Furthermore, in one example a method for detecting rotations of thewheels 459 and 460, the slits 481 and 482 are detected by thephoto-interrupters 479 and 480 described; however, another method may beutilized. For example, a plurality of conductive members may be formedon each of the wheels 459 and 460, and by electrically detecting theconductive members, a rotation of each of the wheels 459 and 460 can bedetected.

FIG. 14 is a detailed circuit diagram of a controller 40 and a RAMcartridge 50 as one example of an extension device. The controller 40incorporates within the housing electronic circuits such as operationsignal processing circuit 44, etc. in order to detect operating statesof the switches 403–407 or the joystick 45 or the like and transferdetected data to the controller control circuit 17. The operation signalprocessing circuit 44 includes a signal receiving circuit 441, a controlcircuit 442, a switch signal detecting circuit 443, a counter circuit444, a signal transmitting circuit 445, a joyport control circuit 446, areset circuit 447 and a NOR gate 448.

The signal receiving circuit 441 converts a serial signal, such as acontrol signal transmitted from the controller control circuit 17,write-in data to the RAM cartridge 50, etc., into a parallel signal tosupply it to the control circuit 442. The control circuit 442 generatesa reset signal to cause resetting (0) on measured values of an X-axiscounter 444X and a Y-axis counter 444Y included in the counter 444, whenthe control signal transmitted from the controller control circuit 17 isa reset signal for an X, Y coordinate of the joystick 45. The joystick45 includes photo-interrupters for X-axis and Y-axis so as to generatethe number of pulses proportional to the amount of inclination of alever in directions of X-axis and Y-axis, providing respective pulsesignals to the counters 44X and 444Y. The counter 444X, when thejoystick 45 is inclined in the X-axis direction, measures the number ofpulses generated in proportion to the amount of inclination. The counter444Y measures the number of pulses generated in proportion to the amountof inclination, when the joystick 45 is inclined in the Y-axisdirection. Accordingly, the resultant vector, determined by the measuredvalues in X-axis and Y-axis of the counter 444X and the 444Y, determinesthe direction of movement and the coordinate position for the heroiccharacter or the cursor. Incidentally, the counter 444X and the counter444Y are also reset by a reset signal supplied from the reset signalgenerating circuit 447 upon turning on the power supply, or a resetsignal supplied from the switch signal detecting circuit 443 when theplayer depresses simultaneously two switches previously determined.

The switch signal detecting circuit 443 responds to an output commandsignal representing a switch state supplied at a constant period (e.g.,at a 1/30-second interval as a frame period of a television), and readsa signal that is varied by the state of depression of the cross switch403 and the switches 404A–404F, 405, 406L, 406R and 407 to supply it tothe control circuit 442.

The control circuit 442 responds to a read-out command signal ofoperating sate data from the controller control circuit 17, and suppliesthe operating state data on the switches 403–407 and the measuringvalues of the counters 444X, 444Y to the signal transmitting circuit 445in a predetermined data-format order. The signal transmitting circuit445 converts these parallel signals outputted from the control circuit442 into serial data to transfer them to the controller control circuit17 via a conversion circuit 43 and a signal line 42.

To the control circuit 442 are connected an address bus, a data bus, anda port control circuit 446 through a port connector. The port controlcircuit 446 performs input-output control (or signal transmission orreception control) on data according to commands by the CPU 11, when theRAM cartridge 50, as one example of an extension device, is connected toa port connector 46. The RAM cartridge 50, includes a RAM 51 and a timerchip 53 as one example of a time-related information generating means(or a calendar timer) connected to the address bus and the data bus, abattery 52 connected thereto for supplying power to the RAM 51 and thetimer counter 53, and a decoder 54 for activating the timer counter 53when a predetermined address is given. The RAM 51 is a RAM that has acapacity lower than a half of a maximum memory capacity accessible byusing an address bus, and comprise for example, a 256 k-bit RAM. Thisavoids duplication between the write-in/read-out address of the RAM andthe read-out address of the timer chip 53 by reading out a value of anarbitrary counter within the timer chip 53 when the highest order bitbecomes “1”. The RAM 51 stores backup data associated with a game, sothat, if the RAM cartridge 50 is removed out of the port connector 46,the stored data is kept by receiving power supply from the battery 52.The details of the kind of data stored by the RAM 51, writing datatherein, and utilization of the data stored will be described later.

FIG. 15 is a graphical illustration of a data format by which the imageprocessing apparatus read out data representative of an operating stateof switches 403–407 and joystick 45 from the controller 40. The datagenerated by the controller 40 is configured by 4-byte data. Thefirst-byte data represents B, A, G, START, upper, lower, left and right,i.e., the depression of pressing points for upper, lower, left and rightof the switch 404B, 404A, 407, 405 and the cross switch 403. Forexample, when the button B, i.e., the switch 404B, is depressed, thehighest order bit of the first byte becomes “1”. Similarly, thesecond-byte represents JSRST, 0 (not employed in the embodiment), L, R,E, D, C and F, i.e., the depression of the switch 409, 406L, 406R, 404E,404D, 404C and 404F. The third byte represents by binary digit the Xcoordinate value (measured value by the X counter 444X) which value isin dependence upon inclination angle of the joystick 45 in the Xdirection. The fourth byte represents by binary digit the Y coordinatevalue (measured value by the Y counter 444Y) which value is independence upon inclination angle of the joystick 45 in the Y direction.Because the X and Y coordinate values are expressed by 8 bits of binarydigit, the conversion of them into decimal digit makes possiblerepresentation of the inclination of the joystick 45 by a numeral offrom 0–255. If the highest order bit is expressed by a signaturedenoting a negative value, the inclination angle of the joystick 45 canbe expressed by a numeral between −128 and 127.

Referring to FIG. 16 to FIG. 19, explanations will be made on a formatfor the signal transmitted and received between the image processingapparatus 10 and the controller 40.

FIG. 16 is an illustrative representation of a format for the signaltransmitted and received between the image processing apparatus 10 andthe controller 40 for identification of the type of a controller 40 bythe image processing apparatus 10. The image processing apparatus 10transmits a type data request signal of a command “0” configured by 1byte (8 bits) to the control circuit 442 within the controller 40, andreceives in response thereto a totally 3 bytes of a type data signal,concerning the controller 40, of TYPE L (1 byte), TYPE H (1 byte) andthe status generated by the control circuit 442. Here, TYPE L and TYPE Hare data representative of a function of a device or apparatus inconnection to the connector 46. The respective data of TYPE L and TYPE Hare data inherent to the type of a RAM cartridge 50. Based on the data,the image processing apparatus 10 identifies the type of a controller40, i.e., the type of a RAM cartridge 50 being connected to thecontroller 40. The type of RAM cartridge 50 involves for example a typemerely mounted with a RAM 51, a type mounted with a RAM 51 together witha timer chip, and a type mounted with a RAM 51 together with a liquidcrystal display. In the present embodiment, the type mounted with a RAM51 and a timer chip is being explained in detail. Meanwhile, the statusdata is data that represents whether or not the port is connected withan extension device such as a RAM cartridge 50 and whether or not anextension device has been connected thereto after resetting.

FIG. 17 is an illustrative representation of a format for the signaltransmitted and received between the image processing apparatus 10 andthe controller 40 for discriminating the operating state of thecontroller 40 by the image processing apparatus 10. The image processingapparatus 10 transmits a controller data request signal of a command “1”configured by 1 byte (8 bits) to the control circuit 442 within thecontroller 40, and receives in response thereto an operating state datasignal, concerning the controller 40, generated by the control circuit442. Based on the operating state data, the image processing apparatus10 acknowledges how the operator operates the controller 40 forutilization for varying the image. Incidentally, the operating statedata signal has been stated in detail in the explanation on FIG. 10, andthe explanation thereof is omitted here.

FIG. 19 is an illustrative representation of a format for a read datasignal when the image processing apparatus 10 reads data out of the RAM51 within the RAM cartridge 50 being connected to the controller 40. Theimage processing apparatus 10 transmits, to the control circuit 442, aread command signal of a command “2” configured by 1 byte (8 bits), anaddress H (8 bits) signal representative of a higher order bit of anaddress, an address L (8 bits) signal representative of a lower orderbit of an address and an address CRC (5 bits) signal for checking fortransmission error of address data of the address H signal and address Lsignal. The image processing apparatus receives in response thereto astorage data signal, for the RAM 51, generated by the control circuit442 and a data CRC (8 bits) signal for checking for data transmissionerror. Incidentally, to read out time-related information of the timerchip 53 by the image processing apparatus 10, it is satisfactory to readout addresses of 800h or longer by merely rendering the address H signalvalue greater than 80h.

FIG. 19 is an illustrative representation of a format for a write datasignal when the image processing apparatus 10 writes data into the RAM51 within the RAM cartridge 50 being connected to the controller 40. Theimage processing apparatus 10 transmits, to the control circuit 442, awrite command signal of a command “3” configured by 1 byte (8 bits), anaddress H (8 bits) signal representative of a higher order bit of anaddress, an address L signal and an address H signal representative of alower order bit (3 bits) of an address, an address CRC (5 bits) signalfor checking for transmission error of address data of the address Lsignal, and a 32-byte write-in data signal to be written into the RAM51. The image processing apparatus 10 receives in response thereto adata CRC (8 bits) signal generated by the control circuit 442 forchecking for data reception error. The image processing apparatus 10receives the CRC signal to perform CRC checking with the transmittedwrite-in data, and judges based thereon that the data has correctly beenwritten into the RAM 51. Incidentally, to reset for example date andtime by writing time-related information into the timer chip from theimage processing apparatus 10, it is satisfactory to perform writinginto addresses of 8000h or longer by merely rendering the address Hsignal value greater than 80h.

The operation of data transmission and reception between the imageprocessing apparatus 10 and the controller 40 will be explained.

Referring first to a flowchart for the CPU of the image processingapparatus 10 in FIG. 20, explanations will be made on image processing.At a step S11, initial setting is made by the CPU 11 based on an initialvalue (not shown) stored in the program data area in FIG. 5. Then, at astep S12, the CPU 11 outputs a control pad data request command storedin the program data area 202 to the bus control circuit 12. At a stepS13, the CPU 11 carries out a predetermined image processing based onthe program stored in the program data area 202 and the image data area201. While the CPU 11 is executing step S13, the bus control circuit 12is under execution of steps S21–S24. Then, at a step S14, the CPU 11outputs image data based on the control pad data stored in the controlpad data area 141 in FIG. 3. After completing step S14, the CPU repeatsto execute steps S12–S14.

The operation of the bus control circuit 12 will be explained by usingFIG. 21. At a step S21, the bus control circuit 12 determines whether ornot the CPU 11 has outputted a controller data request command (arequest command for data on switches of the controller 40 or data on theextension device 50). If no controller data request command has beenoutputted, it is waited for outputting. If a controller data requestcommand has been outputted, the process proceeds to a step S22. At thestep S22, the bus control circuit 12 outputs a command for reading indata of the controller 40 (command 1 or command 2 referred to later) tothe controller control circuit 17. Then, at a step S23, the bus controlcircuit 12 determines whether or not the controller control circuit 17has received data from the controller 40 to store it in the RAM 174. Ifthe controller control circuit 17 has not received data from thecontroller 40 to store in the RAM 174, the bus control circuit 12 waitsat the step S23, while if the controller control circuit 17 has receiveddata from the controller 40 to store it in the RAM 174, the processproceeds to a step S24. At the step S24, the bus control circuit 12transfers the data of the controller 40 stored in the RAM 174 to theW-RAM 14. The bus control circuit 12, when completing the data transferto the W-RAM 14, returns the process back to the step S21 to repeatexecution of the step S21—the step S24.

The flowcharts of FIG. 30 and FIG. 31 illustrate the example wherein,after the bus control circuit 12 has transferred data from the RAM 174to the W-RAM 14, the CPU 11 processes the data stored in the W-RAM 14.However, the CPU 11 may directly process the data in the RAM 174 throughthe bus control circuit 12.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the controllercontrol circuit 17. At a step S31, the presence or absence of waitingfor write-in by the bus control circuit 12 is determined. If not waitedfor write-in, the data transfer control circuit 171 waits until therecomes to waiting for write-in from the bus control circuit 12. Ifwaiting for write-in, at a next step S32 the data transfer controlcircuit 171 causes the RAM 174 to store commands for the first to thefourth channels and/or data (hereinafter abbreviated as “command/data”).At a step S33, the command/data for the first channel is transmitted tothe controller 40 being connected to the connector 181. The controlcircuit 442 performs a predetermined operation based on the command/datato output data to be transmitted to the image processing apparatus 10.The content of the data will be stated later in explaining the operationof the control circuit 442. At a step S34, the data transfer controlcircuit 171 receives data outputted from the control circuit 442, tocause the RAM to store the data.

From now on, at a step S35 the command/data for the second channel istransmitted to the controller 40, in a manner similar to the operationfor the first channel at the steps S33 and S34. The control circuit 442performs a predetermined operation based on this command/data to outputthe data to be transmitted to the image processing apparatus 10. At astep S36 are carried out the processes of data transfer and write-in forthe second channel. Meanwhile, at a step S37, the command/data for thefourth channel is transmitted to the controller 40. The control circuit442 performs a predetermined operation based on this command/data tooutput the data to be transmitted to the image processing apparatus 10.At a step S38 are carried out the processes of data transfer andwrite-in for the third channel. Furthermore, at a step S39, thecommand/data for the fourth channel is transmitted to the controller 40.The control circuit 442 of the controller 40 performs a predeterminedoperation based on this command/data to output the data to betransmitted to the image processing apparatus 10. At a step S40 arecarried out the processes of data transfer and write-in for the fourthchannel. At a subsequent step S41, the data transfer circuit 171transfer in batch the data which have received at the steps S34, S36,S38 and S40 to the bus control circuit 12.

In the manner as stated above, the data for the first channel to thefourth channel, that is, the commands for the controllers 40 beingconnected to the connectors 181–184 and the operating state data to beread out of the controllers 40, are transferred by time-divisionalprocessing between the data transfer control circuit 171 and the controlcircuit 442 respectively within the controllers 40.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the controllercircuit 44. First, at a step S51, it is determined whether or not acommand has been inputted from the image processing circuit 10 to thecontrol circuit 442. If no command has been inputted, it is waited forinputting of a command. If a command is inputted, at a step S52 it isdetermined whether or not the command inputted to the control circuit442 is a status request command (command “0”). If a command “0”, theprocess proceeds to a step S53, wherein a status transmitting process iscarried out.

At the step S53, where the CPU 11 outputs the command “0”, the data informat as shown in FIG. 13 is transmitted and received between the imageprocessing apparatus 10 and the controller 40. On this occasion, thecontrol circuit 442, when receiving the command “0” data configured by 1byte (8 bits), transmits TYPE L (1 byte), TYPE H (1 byte) and thestatus. Here, TYPE L and TYPE H are data for identifying the function ofa device or apparatus being connected to the joyport connector 46, whichare inherently recorded in the RAM cartridge 50. This makes possiblerecognition by the image processing apparatus 10 what extension device(e.g., a RAM cartridge 50 or other extension devices such as a liquidcrystal display) is being connected to the controller 40. The status isdata representative of whether or not an extension device such as a RAMcartridge 50 is being connected to the port and whether or not theconnection of the extension device is after resetting.

On the other hand, at the step S52 if the determination is not a command“0”, it is determined at a step S54 whether or not the inputted commandis a pad-data request command (command “1”). If it is a command “1”, theprocess proceeds to a step S55 where the process of transmitting paddata is performed. Specifically, where the CPU 11 outputs a command “1”,the data in format as shown in FIG. 14 is transmitted and receivedbetween the image processing apparatus 10 and the controller 40. On thisoccasion, the control circuit 442, if receiving command “1” dataconfigured by 1 byte (8 bits), transmits the data of 14 switches (16bits) of B, A, G, START, upper, lower, left, right, L, R, E, D, C and F;the data of JSRST (1 bit); and the data of the counter 444X and thecounter 444Y (16 bits). By transmitting these data to the imageprocessing apparatus 10, the image processing apparatus 10 is recognizedof how the operator operated the controller 40. Thus, these data areutilized for varying the image by the image processing apparatus 10 inaccordance with the operating state of the controller 40.

At the aforesaid step S54, if the determination is not a command “1”, itis determined at a subsequent step S56 whether or not the inputtedcommand is a read-out request command, (command “2”) for data associatedwith the RAM cartridge 50 to be connected to the extension connector.Where the determination is a command “2”, the process proceeds to a stepS57 where the process of write-out of the extension connector isperformed. Specifically, where the CPU 11 outputs a command “2”, thedata in format as shown in FIG. 15 is transmitted and received betweenthe image processing apparatus 10 and the controller 40. On thisoccasion, when the control circuit 442 receives command “2” dataconfigured by 1 byte (8 bits), address H representative of thehigher-order bits (8 bits) of address, address L representative of thelower-order bits (3 bits) of address, and address CRC (5 bits) forchecking for error in address data transmitted and received, the controlcircuit 442 transmits data stored in the RAM cartridge (32 bytes) andCRC (8 bits) for checking for data errors. In this manner, theconnection of the RAM cartridge 50 (or other extension devices) and theimage processing apparatus 10 enables the image processing apparatus 10to process data from the RAM cartridge 50, etc.

At the aforesaid step S56, if the determination is not a command “2”, itis determined at a subsequent step S58 whether or not the inputtedcommand is a read-in request command (command “3”) for informationassociated with the RAM cartridge 50 being connected to the extensionconnector 46. Where it is the command “3”, the process of data read-outis carried out at a step 59 for the RAM cartridge 50 being connected tothe extension connector 46. Specifically, if the CPU 11 outputs acommand “3”, the data shown in FIG. 3 is transmitted and received, inresponse to the command “3”, between the image processing apparatus 10and the controller 40.

That is, when the control circuit 442 receives command “3” dataconfigured by 1 byte (8 bits), address H representative of thehigher-order bits of address (8 bits), address L representative of thelower-order bits of address (3 bits), address CRC for checking for errorin address data transmitted and received (5 bits), and data to betransmitted to the RAM cartridge 50 (32 bytes), it transmits CRC forchecking for error for data received (8 bits). In this manner, theconnection of the extension device 50 and the image processing apparatus10 enables the image processing apparatus 10 to control the extensiondevice 50. The connection of the extension device 50 and the imageprocessing apparatus 10 also drastically improves the function of thecontroller 40.

If at the aforesaid step S58 the determination is not a command “3”, itis determined at a step 60 whether or not it is a reset command (command255). Where it is the reset command (255), the process of resetting thecounter 444 for the joystick 45 is performed at a step S61.

Specifically, where the CPU 11 outputs a command 255, the data shown inFIG. 24 is transmitted and received between the image processingapparatus 10 and the controller 40. That is, the control circuit 442 ofthe controller 40, if receiving command 255 data configured by 1 byte (8bits), outputs a reset signal to reset the X counter 444× and thecounter 444Y, and transmits aforesaid TYPE L (1 byte), TYPE H (1 byte)and the status.

A detailed operation for resetting the joystick 45 will be described.

In order to reset of the joystick 45 to determine an origin pointthereof, there are three methods, i.e., a method through an operation ofthe buttons, a method through turning-on/off the power source, and amethod by the image processor 10.

(1) A reset operation by operating the buttons

With referring to a flowchart shown in FIG. 25, a reset operation of thecounter 444 which stores data indicative of an inclined state of thejoystick 45. First, in a step S432, the switch signal detection circuit443 detects whether or not the buttons 406L, 406R, and 405 aresimultaneously depressed. Then, if the three buttons are not depressed,the detection of the switch signals is performed. Furthermore, if thethree buttons are simultaneously depressed, the reset signal isoutputted.

In response to the reset signal, in a step S434, the count values of theX counter 444X and the Y counter 444Y are reset. Therefore, the originpoint of the joystick is determined at the point when the buttons 406L,406R and 405 are simultaneously depressed.

In this embodiment, at a time that the buttons 406L, 406R and 405 aresimultaneously depressed by the operator, the reset signal is generatedby the switch signal detection circuit 443; however, the number of thebuttons is not limited to three (3), and may be two (2) or four (4),etc. Furthermore, buttons simultaneously depressed are not limited tothe above described buttons, and may be arbitrary buttons.

(2) A reset operation by turning-on/off the power source.

With referring to a flowchart shown in FIG. 26, another reset operationof the counter 444 will be described. A reset signal is outputted from apower-on reset circuit 447 in response to a fact that a power sourceswitch (not shown) of the image processor 10 is turned-on by theoperator when the controller 40 is connected to the image processor 10,or in response to a fact that the power source is supplied to thecontroller 40 by inserting the connection jack of the controller 40 intoone of the controller connectors 181–184 of the image processor 10 whenno controller 40 is connected to the image processor 10. In response tosuch a reset signal, in a step S442, the count values of the X counter444X and the Y counter 444Y are reset. Therefore, the origin point ofthe joystick is determined at the point when power is supplied to thecontroller 40.

(3) A reset operation by the image processor 10

The counter 444 is also reset by executing the steps S60 and S61 shownin the above described FIG. 23. Through such a reset operation, it ispossible to freely determine the origin point of the joystick 45 by theprogram in accordance with a processing status of the image processor10.

According to the above described methods, it is possible to reset the Xcounter 444X and the Y counter 444Y. If the reset signal is outputted ata time that the lever 474 is in its neutral position, that is, at a timethat the lever 474 is not operated by the operator, it is possible toprevent erroneous count values from being stored in the X counter 444×and the Y counter 444Y, and therefore, it is possible to prevent theerroneous count values from being transmitted to the image processor 10

Next, one example where the monitor screen is changed using thecontroller 40 will be described referring to FIG. 27. A leftillustration in FIG. 27 shows the physically inclined amount of thelever 474 using the coordinates. More specifically, a circle illustratedat a center indicates the lever 474, and in this illustration, a statewhere the operator does not operate the lever 474, that is, a statewhere the lever 474 stands upright with respect to the housing. If thelever 474 is inclined toward a front side, the circle is moved in a+(positive) direction in the Y axis, and if the lever 474 is inclinedtoward a rear side, the circle is moved in a −(negative) direction ofthe Y axis. Furthermore, if the lever 474 is inclined toward a rightdirection, the circle is moved in a +(positive) direction of the X axis,and if the lever 474 is inclined toward a left side, the circle is movedin a −(negative) direction of the X axis.

A right illustration in FIG. 27 shows a display screen of a game wherean enemy 34 is targeted by inclining the lever 474 toward front, rear,left and right so as to move an aiming device 35 toward upper, lower,left and right. Clouds 31, mountains 32 and buildings 33 constitute abackground image which can be changed by scrolling and etc., the enemy34 is an object which can freely move within the screen. For example,when the enemy 34 is displayed in a right upper portion of the screen,if the operator inclines the lever 474 toward right and then front, theX counter 444X and the Y counter 444Y are both incremented, and thus,the count values thereof become larger. The count values are transmittedto the image processor 10 which changes a display position of the aimingdevice 35 with utilizing the data of the count values. Therefore, theaiming device 35 become superimposed on the enemy 34. Then, at a timingthe aiming device 35 is just super-positioned on the enemy 34, if thebutton such as the button 404A is depressed, the switch data of thebutton is also transmitted to the image processor 10 similar to thecounter data. Accordingly, the image processor 10 generates the imagesignal so as to display a missile (not shown) or the like which canattack the enemy 34 on the screen.

Next, one example of a case where the analog joystick is reset in astate where the lever 474 is deviated from the center, that is, thelever 474 is inclined will be described referring to FIG. 28.

When the X counter 444X and the Y counter 444Y are reset at thecoordinate position indicated by a solid circular line in a leftillustration in FIG. 28, if the operator releases his or her hand fromthe lever 474, the lever 474 returns to the center of the coordinate,i.e., a position indicated by a dotted circular line. A change of theimage will be described with utilizing a right illustration in FIG. 29.First, when the X counter 444X and the Y counter 444Y are reset, assimilar to the right illustration in FIG. 29, the aiming device 35 isdisplayed at the solid circular line because the count values of the Xcounter 444X and the Y counter 444Y are both “O” equal to the initialvalues. Next, if the operator releases his or her hand from the lever474, the lever 474 returns to the center position of the coordinate, andthe X counter 444X within the controller 40 is incremented and the Ycounter 444Y is decremented, and therefore, the count values of thecounters 444X and 444Y become larger and smaller, respectively. Thecount values are transmitted to the image processor 10 which changes thedisplay position of the aiming device 35 with utilizing the data of thecount values to the position of an aiming device 35 indicated by adotted line.

A description will be made a reset operation. For example, if theoperator presumes the position that the enemy 34 appears is the positionof the aiming device 35 shown by the dotted line in the rightillustration in FIG. 29, the operator wishes to superimpose the aimingdevice 35 at the position of the dotted line aiming device 35 at aninstant that the enemy 34 appears. However, if the aiming device 35 iscontinuously kept on the dotted line aiming device 35, the operator whois a game player becomes bored, and there is a further possibility thatif the enemy 34 appears at a place not presumed, the operator cannotattack the enemy, and therefore, in order to superimposes the aimingdevice 35 on the position of the dotted line aiming device 35 at aninstant that the enemy 34 appears, and to freely move the aiming device35 to other places, the above described reset function is used.

In describing an action of the operator more specifically, the operatorfirst inclines the lever 474 such that the aiming device 35 is displayedat a position symmetrically corresponding to the position presumed thatthe enemy 34 will appear (the position of the dotted line aiming device35) with reference to the solid line aiming device 35. At that time, thephysical coordinate position of the lever 474 becomes the solid circularline in the left illustration in FIG. 29. Then, the operatorsimultaneously depresses the three buttons of the buttons 406L, 406R and405. In response to the depression, the X counter 444X and the Y counter444Y are both reset, and the aiming device 35 is displayed at theposition of the solid line aiming device 35. Then, the operator freelymoves the aiming device 35, and waits for an appearance of the enemy 34.If the enemy 34 appears at the position of the dotted line aiming device35, the operator releases the hand from the lever 474. Therefore, thelever 474 returns to the physical coordinate position shown by thedotted circular line in the left illustration in FIG. 29. Resultingly,the aiming device 35 becomes to be displayed at the dotted line aimingdevice 35. When the operator surely superimposes the aiming device 35 onthe enemy 34, and depresses the switch such as the button 404A, amissile (not shown) or the like which attacks the enemy 34 displayed onthe screen.

Furthermore, if the reset operation is performed in the above describedmanner, it is possible to largely move the lever 474 toward a rightlower direction, and therefore, the above described reset operation isalso effective at a time that the operator wishes to largely move thelever 474 toward a right lower direction.

With reference to FIG. 29 to FIG. 34, explanation will be made on how toutilize in a game program the function of resetting the origin point ofthe joystick 45 to a desired point. It is assumed for example, in a gamesuch as a racing game in which an object, e.g., a racing car, on ascreen is operated based on maneuver by a user, that the maximum speedof a racing car is altered in conformity with the skill of a user. Insuch a case, a screen for selecting a racing car, for example as shownin FIG. 29, is displayed to select a desirable racing car by incliningthe joystick 45 by the user. Where the user does not incline thejoystick 45 at all, a racing car A with a maximum speed of 160 km/hr isselected. If the user inclines the joystick 45 toward this, i.e., in adirection corresponding to the downward of the screen, to a small extent(for example, by approximately 50% of the maximum inclination angle ofthe joystick 45), a racing car B with a maximum speed of 250 km/hr isselected. If the user inclines the joystick 45 toward this, i.e., in thedirection corresponding to the downward of the screen, to a large extent(for example, by 90% or greater of the maximum inclination angle for thejoystick 45), a racing car C with a maximum speed of 320 km/hr isselected. After selecting arbitrary one out of the racing cars A–Cthrough the above operation, a racing scene begins in accordance withthe maximum speed of the racing car. The higher the maximum speed of theracing car, the relative difficulty of the game is raised high and thescore increases.

For a racing game like this, the selection and display of racing carsare conventionally made based on an algorithm as shown in FIG. 31 andFIG. 32. At a step S151 in FIG. 31, the CPU 11 executes a program fordisplaying an image as shown in FIG. 29 (e.g., a program for displayingthe racing cars A–C according to a game program).

At a step S152, the CPU 11 reads information representative of anoperating state of the controller. At a step S153, the CPU 11 determineswhether a button for controller determination, e.g., the button A, isdepressed or not. When it is determined that the button A is depressed,the process proceeds to a step S154 where it is determined from theposition of a cursor which one of the racing cars A–C is selected. Thevalue of the maximum speed is determined to one out of 160, 250 and 320km/hr depending upon the racing car selected. If the maximum speed isdetermined, the process proceeds to a game scene at a step S155, thatis, a main routine of the game.

Meanwhile, if it is determined at the step S153 that the button A is notdepressed, the process proceeds to a step S156 where it is furtherdetermined whether the upper or lower key of the cross-shape button isdepressed or not. When it is determined at the step S156 that either ofthe upper or lower key of the cross button is depressed, the cursor forselecting a racing car is moved in dependence upon the depressed key andthereafter the process returns to the step S152. If it is determinedthat neither of the upper nor lower keys is depressed, the processimmediately returns to the step S152.

After determining the kind and the maximum speed of a racing car in thismanner, the process proceeds to the main routine of the game of FIG. 32.At a step S161 in FIG. 32, an initial scene of racing scene, for examplea starting site, etc. as shown in FIG. 30, is displayed on the screen.At a step S162, controller data is read out. At a step S163, it isdetermined whether or not the upper key of the cross button isdepressed, based on which it is determined whether or not accelerationof the racing car is desired by the user. If it is determined that theuser desires acceleration of the racing car, the process proceeds to astep S164 where it is determined whether the speed of the racing car hasalready attained its maximum speed or not. Where the speed of the racingcar has not yet reached the maximum speed, the racing car is acceleratedat a step S165 and thereafter the process proceeds to a step S166. Wherethe speed of the racing car already reached the maximum speed, theprocess proceeds to a step S166 without executing the step S165. At thestep S166, other processing, e.g., handle-manipulation processing, isperformed based on the controller data read out at the step S162. At astep S167, racing scenes are displayed on the screen based on the resultof these steps S162–S166.

On the other hand, where it is determined at the step S163 that the userdoes not desire acceleration for the racing car, it is determined thatthe user has a desire to decelerate the racing car, and the processproceeds to a step S168. At the step S168 it is determined whether ornot the racing car has already stopped. If determined that it is alreadystopped, the process proceeds to the step S166 without executing a stepS169. Where it is determined that the racing car is not yet stopped,deceleration is made for the racing car at the step S169, and thereafterthe process proceeds to the step S166. At the step S166, othercontroller data processing is performed but for the cross key. Then, Ata step S167, a racing scene is displayed, and the process proceeds tothe step S162.

Explained above is an algorithm concerning selection of a maximum speedof a racing car and control thereof when a controller of theconventional art is employed. On the contrary, where using an analogjoystick of the above embodiment in which origin point that may be restalgorithms as illustrated in FIG. 33 and FIG. 34 apply. In particular,it should be noted that the algorithm of FIG. 34 is largely simplifiedin comparison with the corresponding prior art algorithm of FIG. 32.

At a step S171 in FIG. 33, racing cars A–C are displayed on the screen.At a step S172, the CPU 11 reads in a state of the analog joystick inthe aforesaid way. At a step S173, the CPU 11 determines whether thebutton 404A (hereinafter described as the button A) is depressed or not.If depression of the button A is determined, a racing car to be used forthe racing game is determined at a step S174, and further the originpoint is reset by taking the inclined angle of the joystick at that timeas 0. Thereafter, at a step S175 the process proceeds to a main routineof the racing game.

On the other hand, if the button A is not depressed is determined, at astep S176 the racing car selecting cursor is displayed at a positioncorresponding to the inclined angle of the joystick. That is, where theoverall range of the analog joystick inclining angle is taken 45 degreesto −45 degrees, when the angle is at 0 degree to −15 degrees the cursoris displayed at a position of the racing car A, when −15 degrees to −30degrees the cursor is displayed at a position of the racing car B, andwhen −30 degrees or greater the cursor is displayed at a position of theracing car C. After the cursor is displayed, the process returns againto the step S172. As explained as above, it is possible in thisembodiment to omit the step S156 of the conventional art.

Using FIG. 34, explanation will be made for a main routine of the racinggame in the case of using the analog joystick of the embodiment. At astep S181, an initial screen for example with a racing scene of FIG. 30is displayed. At a step 182, an operating state of the analog joystickis read in. At a step S183, the inclination angle of the joystick ismultiplied by a predetermined constant to determine the speed of theracing car. At this time, the inclination angle of the joystick isdifferent in dependence upon the kind of the racing cars. This isbecause for the racing car A when the inclination angle during countercircuit 444 is reset to 0 degrees, for the racing car B when theinclination angle during selection of a racing car is for example −15degrees the count value of the counter circuit 444 is reset to 0degrees, and for the racing car C when the inclination angle duringselection of a racing car is for example −30 degrees the count value ofthe counter circuit 444 is reset to 0 degrees. Accordingly, when thejoystick is forwardly, fully inclined, the inclination angle is 45degrees for the racing car A, 60 degrees for the racing car B, and 75degrees for the racing car C. In this manner, even if the joystick isoperated by the user in a similar way, the inclination angle obtainablediffers by the kind of a racing car. That is, the speed of a racing car,in particular the maximum speed is different. Furthermore, the presentapplication does not require a complicated speed control routine such asthe steps S163 to steps S165, the step S168 and the step S169, butprovides a program function equivalent thereto by having only the stepS183.

In this manner, after determining the speed of the racing car, otherjoystick data are processed at a step S184, and a racing scene isdisplayed at a step S185.

In this embodiment, since the program processing amount is decreased byreducing the number of steps, realization is made for reduction ofprogrammer's operating time as well as simplification of operation.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated indetail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustrationand example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spiritand scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms ofthe appended claims.

1. For use with a video game system console having a game programexecuting processing system for executing said video game program tocreate a display simulating a three-dimensional world, and a portablestorage device having a memory for storing video game instructionsincluding instructions for causing said game program executingprocessing system to display a player-controlled object and for causingsaid player controlled object to move at various different speeds, aplayer controller comprising: a joystick control member; detectingcircuitry for generating joystick data indicative of the amount ofjoystick angular inclination and inclined direction; processingcircuitry for responding to a command from said game program executingprocessing system to transmit said joystick data to said game programexecuting processing system, whereby said game program executingprocessing system is operable to determine the direction and speed forsaid player controlled object.
 2. A player controller in accordance withclaim 1, wherein said video game program executing processing system isoperable to display a plurality of player controlled objects and isoperable to respond to said angular inclination data to select one ofsaid player controlled objects for game play.
 3. A player controller inaccordance with claim 1, further including a removable expansion devicehaving a data bus coupled thereto, said data bus being operable totransmit data to said expansion device received from said game programexecuting processing system.
 4. A player controller in accordance withclaim 3, wherein said expansion device includes a memory.
 5. A playercontroller in accordance with claim 1, wherein said detecting circuitryincludes a first counter indicative of joystick inclination with respectto a first axis and a second counter indicative of joystick inclinationwith respect to a second axis.
 6. A player controller in accordance withclaim 1, wherein instructions in said portable storage device memorycontrol said game program executing processing system to display theobject in one of an acceleration mode and a deceleration mode.
 7. Foruse with a video game system having a game program executing processingsystem for executing said video game program to create a displaysimulating a three-dimensional world, and at least one player controllerhaving a joystick control member, detecting circuitry for generatingjoystick data indicative of the amount of joystick angular inclinationand inclined direction and processing circuitry for processing commandsfrom said video game executing processing system, said video gameexecuting processing system responding to data generated by said playercontroller to modify said display, a portable storage device forcontrolling the operation of said video game system console comprising:a memory media for storing video game instructions and graphics data; aconnector for coupling said video game instructions and said graphicsdata from said memory media to said video game system console; saidvideo game instructions including instructions for causing said gameprogram executing processing system to send a command to said playercontroller to transmit said joystick data indicative of the amount ofjoystick angular inclination and inclined direction to said game programexecuting processing system and to cause said game program executingprocessing system to control the direction and speed of said playercontrolled object based upon the angular inclination and inclineddirection of said joystick control member.
 8. A portable storage devicein accordance with claim 7, wherein said player controller includes aremovable expansion device having a data bus coupled thereto, said databus being operable to transmit data to said expansion device receivedfrom said game program executing processing system, and wherein saidinstructions in said memory media include instructions for causing saidgame program executing processing system to send a command to saidplayer controller to send data to said expansion device.
 9. A playercontroller in accordance with claim 8, wherein said instructions in saidmemory media include instructions for causing said game programexecuting processing system to send a command to said player controllerto retrieve data from said expansion device.
 10. A portable storagedevice in accordance with claim 8, wherein said expansion deviceincludes a memory.
 11. A portable storage device in accordance withclaim 7, wherein said detecting circuitry includes a first counterindicative of joystick inclination with respect to a first axis and asecond counter indicative of joystick inclination with respect to asecond axis and where said joystick data transmitted to said gameprogram executing processing system is obtained from said first counterand said second counter.
 12. A portable storage device in accordancewith claim 7, wherein instructions in said portable storage devicememory control said game program executing processing system to displaythe object in one of an acceleration mode and a deceleration mode. 13.For use with a video game system console having a game program executingprocessing system for executing said video game program to create adisplay simulating a three-dimensional world, and at least one playercontroller having a joystick control member, said video game executingprocessing system responding to data generated by said player controllerto modify said display, a portable storage device for controlling theoperation of said video game system console comprising: a memory mediafor storing video game instructions and graphics data; a connector forcoupling said video game instructions and said graphics data from saidmemory media to said video game system console; said video gameinstructions including instructions for causing said game programexecuting processing system to display a plurality of player-controlledobjects each having a distinctive associated motion characteristic andinstructions to respond to changes in the joystick position to controlthe selection of one of said plurality of player-controlled objectshaving a distinctive motion characteristic, wherein at least onedistinctive motion characteristic is the maximum speed at which aplayer-controlled object is able to appear to move.
 14. A portablestorage device according to claim 13, wherein instructions in saidmemory media control said game program executing processing system toselect one of said plurality of player-controlled objects in response todetecting the angle of inclination of said joystick.
 15. A portablestorage device according to claim 13, wherein instructions in saidmemory media control said game program executing processing system tooutput a command to the controller requesting operating state data. 16.A portable storage device according to claim 15, wherein instructions insaid memory media control said game program executing processing systemto respond to said operating state data received from said playercontroller to determine the amount of inclination of the joystick.
 17. Aportable storage device according to claim 13, wherein instructions insaid memory media control said game program executing processing systemto calculate the moving speed of a displayed object for a currentdisplay frame in response to joystick amount of inclination data and tostore said moving speed.
 18. A portable storage device according toclaim 13, wherein instructions in said memory media control said gameprogram executing processing system to compare the actual moving speedof a displayed object in a previous frame with a predetermined speed.